Man Shoots Landscaper in Head with Crossbow Bolt in Las Vegas

Charles Nichols arrested for attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon after incident at his condo complex

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Las Vegas police have arrested 45-year-old Charles Nichols for allegedly shooting a landscaper in the head with a crossbow bolt at his condominium complex. Nichols told police he became irritated by the noise from the landscaper's leaf blower after his car had been towed earlier that day, and threw various items at the landscaper before firing the crossbow. The landscaper was struck in the head but survived the attack.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the potential for violence to erupt over seemingly minor neighborhood disputes, as well as the dangers posed by residents having access to deadly weapons like crossbows. It also raises questions about mental health, anger management, and how homeowners associations can better address tensions between residents and service workers.

The details

According to the police report, Nichols told detectives he believed the homeowners association had sent the landscaper to bother him, after his silver Kia Rio had been towed twice in the 10 months he had been living at his mother's residence. Nichols, who has a Nevada hunting license, denied owning a bow and arrow but admitted to having darts and throwing stars. Police executed a search warrant and found a crossbow and six matching bolts in Nichols' home.

  • On February 26, 2026, Charles Nichols was arrested by Las Vegas police.
  • Earlier that same day, Nichols had retrieved his towed car and then became irritated by the landscaper's leaf blower noise.

The players

Charles Nichols

A 45-year-old Las Vegas resident who was arrested and charged with attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon for allegedly shooting a landscaper in the head with a crossbow bolt.

The Landscaper

An unidentified landscaper who was working at Nichols' condominium complex and was struck in the head by a crossbow bolt, but survived the attack.

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What they’re saying

“He touched his head and immediately recognized it was wet and began seeing blood dripping.”

— The Landscaper (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

“He wanted the landscaper to leave the area and never intended to harm him.”

— Charles Nichols (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

What’s next

Nichols is scheduled to appear in court on March 15th, where a judge will determine if he will be allowed to post bail while awaiting trial.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for better conflict resolution and de-escalation training for residents of homeowners associations, as well as improved mental health resources to address issues like Nichols' reported high anxiety. It also highlights the dangers of allowing private citizens easy access to deadly weapons like crossbows.